Best portable air conditioners compared (2026)
A portable air conditioner cools one room where a window unit won't fit or isn't allowed, and it rolls away in winter. In a heat wave that matters: CDC says not to rely solely on fans, because when temperatures are really hot they won't prevent heat-related illness, and even a few hours in air conditioning can help. This page compares portable ACs on both of the numbers makers print, the DOE rating (SACC) and the larger ASHRAE figure, plus hose type, inverter and heat mode. We haven't tested them ourselves.
By Tom Calder · Updated November 9, 2026 · 9 products, all price-tracked
Our picks
Photo: AmazonWhynter ARC-1230WN
The strongest cooling on this page for one room
as of Nov 9, 2026, 11:40 AM ET · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Photo: AmazonMidea 10,000 BTU ASHRAE
A bedroom or small room on a budget with app control
as of Nov 9, 2026, 11:40 AM ET · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Photo: AmazonLG LP0825WSSM
A medium room with an LG app and clear DOE rating
as of Nov 9, 2026, 11:40 AM ET · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.All 9 compared
| Air conditioner | DOE (SACC) rating | ASHRAE rating | Room size (maker) | Hose | Inverter | Heating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Whynter NEX Inverter 14,000 BTU (12,000 BTU SACC) Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioner ARC-1230WN Best for a large room 12,000 BTU · 14,000 BTU · 600 sq ft · Dual hose · Yes · No The strongest cooling on this page for one room | 12,000 BTU | 14,000 BTU | 600 sq ft | Dual hose | Yes | No | $659 at Amazon as of Nov 9, 2026, 11:40 AM ET · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.In stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched Whynter lists 12,000 BTU SACC on its own page, the highest on this page, with a dual hose (hose-in-hose) design and an inverter. It is heavy at 77.25 lb by the maker's figure and has no heat mode. Best for The strongest cooling on this page for one room Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you will move it between rooms often or need heat mode. | |||||||
 10,000 BTU · 12,000 BTU · 500 sq ft · Dual hose · Yes · No A dual-hose inverter unit for a medium-to-large room | 10,000 BTU | 12,000 BTU | 500 sq ft | Dual hose | Yes | No | $599.99 at Amazon as of Nov 9, 2026, 11:40 AM ET · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.In stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched A step below the ARC-1230WN: 10,000 BTU SACC, a dual hose and an inverter, rated by Whynter for 500 sq ft. No heat mode. Best for A dual-hose inverter unit for a medium-to-large room Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you only need to cool a small room; a smaller unit will do. | |||||||
 10,000 BTU · 14,000 BTU · 450 sq ft · Yes A quiet inverter portable for a medium or large room | 10,000 BTU | 14,000 BTU | 450 sq ft | — | Yes | — | $699 at Amazon as of Nov 9, 2026, 11:40 AM ET · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.In stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched LG's dual-inverter portable carries a 10,000 BTU SACC rating and a stated sound level as low as 44 dB in sleep mode, with app control. The listing doesn't say how many hoses it uses or whether it heats. Best for A quiet inverter portable for a medium or large room Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you need a confirmed dual-hose design or a heat mode. | |||||||
 10,000 BTU · 14,000 BTU · 450 sq ft · Single hose · No · Heat mode (heat pump, 41-86°F operating range; heating BTU not stated) One portable unit for cooling and mild-weather heat | 10,000 BTU | 14,000 BTU | 450 sq ft | Single hose | No | Heat mode (heat pump, 41-86°F operating range; heating BTU not stated) | $576.84 at Amazon as of Nov 9, 2026, 11:40 AM ET · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.In stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched Rated 10,000 BTU by the DOE-style SACC measure, which puts it in the large tier on this page, and it adds a heat mode with a stated 41-86°F operating range. The listing doesn't give a heating BTU figure, and Amazon lists it as non-inverter. Best for One portable unit for cooling and mild-weather heat Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you want a dual-hose or inverter unit. | |||||||
5. LG 8,350 BTU (DOE) / 12,000 BTU (ASHRAE) Smart Portable Air Conditioner LP0825WSSM Best mid-size portable AC 8,350 BTU · 12,000 BTU · 350 sq ft · Single hose · No A medium room with an LG app and clear DOE rating | 8,350 BTU | 12,000 BTU | 350 sq ft | Single hose | No | — | $399.99 at Amazon as of Nov 9, 2026, 11:40 AM ET · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.In stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched LG states both ratings in the title, 8,350 BTU DOE and 12,000 BTU ASHRAE, which makes the comparison easy. It is a non-inverter model for rooms up to 350 sq ft, with Wi-Fi and voice control. Best for A medium room with an LG app and clear DOE rating Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you want an inverter for quieter, steadier cooling. | |||||||
7,100 BTU · 10,000 BTU · 300 sq ft · Single hose · No A bedroom or small room on a budget with app control | 7,100 BTU | 10,000 BTU | 300 sq ft | Single hose | — | No | $229.99 at Amazon as of Nov 9, 2026, 11:40 AM ET · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.In stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched A 10,000 BTU ASHRAE unit whose DOE-style rating (SACC) is 7,100 BTU, so it sits in the small tier for real cooling. It uses one exhaust hose and a window kit, and adds Wi-Fi and voice control. The listing doesn't say whether it has an inverter. Best for A bedroom or small room on a budget with app control Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you need to cool more than one bedroom-sized room. | |||||||
 8,350 BTU · 12,000 BTU · 550 sq ft · Single hose · No · No A medium bedroom or den with smart control | 8,350 BTU | 12,000 BTU | 550 sq ft | Single hose | No | No | $399.99 at Amazon as of Nov 9, 2026, 11:40 AM ET · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.In stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched A 12,000 BTU ASHRAE unit with Wi-Fi and voice control. Its DOE-style rating is 8,000 BTU in the title and 8,350 BTU in a bullet, so treat it as roughly 8,000 BTU of real cooling. Single hose, no inverter. Best for A medium bedroom or den with smart control Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you want an exact DOE rating you can check against the label. | |||||||
10,200 BTU · 14,000 BTU · 700 sq ft · Single hose · No · No A large room where a window unit won't fit | 10,200 BTU | 14,000 BTU | 700 sq ft | Single hose | No | No | $469.99 at Amazon as of Nov 9, 2026, 11:40 AM ET · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.In stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched The biggest of the BLACK+DECKER portables, with a stated SACC of 10,200 BTU and a maker's room size of 700 sq ft. It has Wi-Fi and voice control and a Follow Me remote. One hose, no inverter, and the 700 sq ft figure looks generous next to the SACC number. Best for A large room where a window unit won't fit Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you can fit a window unit, which is usually the simpler way to cool a large room. | |||||||
 5,300 BTU · 9,000 BTU · 400 sq ft · Single hose · No · No A small bedroom or office | 5,300 BTU | 9,000 BTU | 400 sq ft | Single hose | No | No | $259.99 at Amazon as of Nov 9, 2026, 11:40 AM ET · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.In stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched A 9,000 BTU ASHRAE unit with a 5,300 BTU SACC rating, the smallest cooling on this page. It has a Follow Me remote, wheels and a window kit, and Amazon lists it as non-inverter. The 400 sq ft figure is the maker's, and the SACC number suggests aiming it at a smaller room. Best for A small bedroom or office Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you need to cool a living room or a hot room that gets afternoon sun. | |||||||
ⓘ As an Amazon Associate, PreparedStates earns from qualifying purchases. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. When two products are close, commission can decide which one we pick. A clearly better product always wins. Amazon prices come from Amazon's own product data and can change at any time.
Before you buy
Size by the DOE (SACC) rating.
Makers print an ASHRAE figure and a lower DOE/SACC figure. DOE's SACC is a weighted average of two tests, at 95°F and 83°F, adjusted for the heat that comes in through the duct and infiltration, so it's the fairer number for comparing units. We list both.
Single or dual hose.
A single-hose unit pulls room air to cool its parts and blows it outside, which draws warm air in through gaps. A dual-hose unit takes outside air in through a second hose. Whynter's dual-hose models are here for hotter rooms.
Inverter models run quieter and steadier.
An inverter compressor slows down instead of switching off and on; Whynter's NEX and LG's dual inverter are the inverter units here.
Check the window kit and the drain.
Every portable AC needs its hose vented out of a window (or a wall or door kit) and deals with condensed water, by self-evaporation, a bucket or a drain hose. Measure your window against the kit before buying.
Follow the manual on power.
A portable AC draws heavily; check the outlet and cord rules in its manual before you plug it in.
We verify every product's specifications against at least two independent sources, re-check its US price and stock on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and cross-check safety-relevant claims against official guidance. Every review is labeled Researched or Used and reviewed by us: where we've bought a product, or been sent it free, and used it ourselves, its review says which; where we haven't, our verdict is a considered spec-and-evidence comparison, not a hands-on test. When two products are close, commission can decide which one we pick. A clearly better product always wins. Read our full methodology →
Related gear comparisons
Guides that go with this
Heat exhaustion vs heat stroke signs and what to do, why a fan is not enough when it is very hot, heat alert t…
A calm power outage checklist from Ready.gov and CDC: what to prepare, how to protect food, medicines and medi…
Common questions
What's the difference between ASHRAE and SACC (DOE) BTU?
The ASHRAE figure is the older, larger rating. DOE's SACC (seasonally adjusted cooling capacity) is a weighted average of tests at 95°F and 83°F, adjusted for heat that comes in through the duct and gaps. In every listing here, the SACC number is the lower one; compare units on SACC.
Portable or window air conditioner?
If a window unit fits and your building allows it, a window AC generally cools better for the power it uses, because its hot side sits outside. A portable makes sense where a window unit can't go, such as casement or sliding windows, or for renters who can't mount one.
Do I need a dual-hose portable AC?
Not always. Single-hose units are simpler and cheaper and work well in small to mid-size rooms. A dual-hose model takes its cooling air from outside, which helps in hotter climates and bigger rooms.
Will a portable AC run on a power station in an outage?
Only a big one, and not for long. Check the AC's rated watts on its label against the power station's output and capacity. For outage cooling, battery air conditioners and battery fans use far less power.
Are fans enough in a heat wave?
Not when it's very hot. CDC says don't rely solely on fans: while electric fans might provide some comfort, when temperatures are really hot they won't prevent heat-related illness. CDC suggests spending time in air-conditioned places, and contacting your local health department or locating an air-conditioned shelter.